Potters Resort has retained its hosting rights for the World Indoor Bowls Championships.

A new three-year deal has been agreed between the World Bowls Tour and the Hopton-based resort to keep the competition at its popular Norfolk home.

The agreement will continue an association that marked 20 years this year and cements Potters Resort’s reputation as the home of bowls.

John Potter, managing director of Potters Resort, said: “As the largest provider of indoor bowls holidays in the world, we are of course delighted to host the world event and confirm our place as the home of bowls.

“We are also delighted that Just Group will continue as title sponsor of the championships.

“The continued partnership of the World Bowls Tour with Potters Resort and Just Group means we can enter the third decade of the World Indoor Bowls Championships with confidence.”

Richard Maddieson, CEO of the World Bowls Tour said: “The World Bowls Championships found its home at Potters Resort and I cannot be more delighted that we are able to confirm that we will be here for a further three years.

“Potters Resort delivers the best facilities and a packed arena for every day of the championships which the players, officials and myself really appreciate.”

The Just World Indoor Bowls Championships sees bowls players from around the world compete in Potters’ 1,100-seat International Arena to win a coveted trophy and prize money, with over 20,000 spectators attending over the duration of the championships, which ended on Sunday.

The Just 2019 World Indoor Bowls Championships will be staged from January 11-27.

Bringing the tournament to Norfolk was the brainchild of Potters Resort’s chairman and tourism innovator Brian Potter, who passed away in November 2014.

In 1997 work started on a six-rink international standard stadium – a total investment of £2.5m and the stadium officially opened in 1998 when Potters hosted the national England Ladies’ Championships.

The event was an enormous success and when the World Bowls Council saw the facility in action they moved the championships to Hopton the following year.